Learning to Use Scissors

Rachel Lee is self motivated to use scissors and tape...art supplies that her sisters regularly use. Lately she has really gotten the hang of using scissors and will sit around snipping away at paper until the paper is cut completely around on the four sides...it's great entertainment for her and she will do it for long periods of time! This girl has some focus and is motivated to keep up with her bigger sisters!

A Star is Born

Kate just had her sweet preschool Christmas performance. She was a star...both literally and figuratively. Her class all wore star costumes and with her quiet excited celebration I think she was a star in the show!

Getting ready for the show...a ham was born as well!! My silly little Rachel Lee!!

Lovely Little Ladies

My mom is such a talented seamstress. She has made two set of dresses for the girls and they love wearing them because they get so many compliments. Mom my just made another dress for each girl, and these twirlie dresses are simply lovely. The make my three little girls look like lovely little ladies.

Even lovely ladies like to be silly!!

Best Beach Day

I love the beach. Not that I am a surfer, or enjoy going in the water, but I love laying on the beach, walking on the beach, and just sitting and watching the waves roll in and out. So, for me, the best time to go to the beach in December when no one else is there and I have the beach to myself with my girls. It's lovely, and we have a ton of fun just digging, collecting shells and walking up and down the beach. So much fun!

Mommy Preschool

Mommy preschool has kicked into high gear for Kate. Here she is writing her name with capital and lower case letters...way to go Kate!

First Day of Advent

"This advent calendar was made with much love for Jeff and Sarah." That was how my mom started the advent calendar she made us 7...maybe 8 years ago. "It was made ot be a reminder of who we celebrate and why. It begins with a heart to remind you of how much Ray and I love you, but most of all how much Jesus loves you. May we always make room for Christ our Savior in our hearts and not be like the inn that had no room for him. We celebrate our Savior who loved us so much He gave His life for us. Never forget God's love and our love fr you, no matter where you are in life."

Christmas Tree Time!

We got a tree!! Mom and Dad joined us for some Christmas fun, and helped us get the perfect 5 foot tree.

We even decorated it...YIPEEE!!

Water Play

Kate and RL have an intense passion for playing with water. RL loves to just pour water from one cup to the other over and over and over. We cannot leave a cup of water around without her claiming it and pouring it somewhere: Ellie's bumbo, the little people bus, the potato head container...all places that RL has randomly poured water into without my knowledge. She definitely takes advantage of her distracted and busy mama. But, the try to cut down on these random puddles, I have tried to give RL and Kate time to play with water.

It amazes me that as a young baby she hated water and I had to do stick her in water just to get her used to being in water (I called it water therapy). Now I can't get her to stay dry for 2 minutes!

Tour de So Cal: Thanksgiving 2012

Our Thanksgiving Tour de So Cal began in Irvine, CA with my sister, Jenna and her family. We had an upscale meal at Chik-fil-A followed by a wild time at a nearby park. It was a totally kid friendly and parent approved time. We did our Thanksgiving celebration on Thanksgiving Eve since the Pine family was going to spend this year with the Pine side.

Thanksgiving Day was spent half in Brea with my parents, and half in San Pedro with Jeff's parents. Let's just say, Thanksgiving day was spent eating, and eating and eating!! (with a little drive time in between)

Cindy and Roger made a wonderful turkey, and with a variety of delicious side dishes.

The next morning Roger made breakfast...

...Cindy drew with the girls...

...we visited the seals and then we continued our Tour de So Cal as we traveled off to...RIVERSIDE! By now in the trip we were all feeling a little...

...tired...Rachel Lee actually covered herself with this baby doll blanket and fell asleep! The girl was D-O-N-E! But we had one more feast, during which I did not take any pictures. The time with my dad's extended family in Riverside was great: we ate well, went in the hot tub, made cotton candy, played (kid style) basketball, and chased around the bunnies that we gave my aunt and uncle. By the time we ended our Tour and arrived back in San Diego we were all ready for a clean diet of fruits and veggies and some rest!

Farrells Ice Cream Shop

While visiting my parents the day before Thanksgiving they took the girls and I to dinner at a very fun restaurant called Farrells. It's unlike any place I've been before in that they ding, dance and yell all kinds of funny things. To get attention they ring this horn, which when RL heard it she began to cry. Kate decided that it was too loud as well, and I thought the evening might have been a bust until we got some ice cream. Then they all loved the place and seemed like they were getting used to the noise and commotion. I think if we were there a little longer they would have thought the place was even funny!

Gymnastics Birthday Party

Kate was invited to her first birthday party of her own. Hannah was allowed to come as well, but it was Kate's friends, which made Kate feel pretty popular.

Here she is with her friend, Madison, the birthday girl.

And she is with Anna and Madison, the girls she usually plays with at school.

And here she is with Chase and Madison, the only boy she ever talks about. She says that she likes him because he plays a nice Dad when they play house. He does seem like a nice boy, but I prefer the days when they just play without a dad saying that daddy went to work.